Johnny Depp’s Ebenezer Scrooge reimagines the classic Christmas villain like never before. The new movie will give Scrooge stronger arguments instead of treating him as simply a cruel miser.

Ti West wants audiences to understand Scrooge’s reasoning throughout the story. In a conversation with Entertainment Weekly, he said, “In other adaptations, Scrooge is kind of an asshole, and then the rest of the characters are benevolent, perfect people. And it was really our goal to try to balance that out to say that there’s much more of a gray area in the story. We want to give Scrooge logic and a good argument, so when he is making an argument about something, he’s not wrong.”

The 45-year-old director also praised Depp’s approach to the role. He said the actor found the balance needed to make Scrooge both unpleasant and sympathetic. The director believes this makes the character more engaging for audiences.

What else do we know about Johnny Depp’s Ebenezer movie?

Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol is based on Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella. West directed the film from a screenplay by Nathaniel Halpern, with Paramount Pictures behind the project. The movie is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 13, 2026.

West’s horror background also shapes the supernatural elements. He wanted the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come to feel genuinely spooky. That gives the familiar story a darker tone without changing its central premise.

The cast features Ian McKellen as Jacob Marley and Rupert Grint as Bob Cratchit. Tramell Tillman plays the Ghost of Christmas Present, while Andrea Riseborough portrays the Ghost of Christmas Past. Daisy Ridley and Sam Claflin are also among the cast.

McKellen’s Marley will appear in a scene before his death, so the audience will see him while he is alive. West also gave each ghost a distinct personality and relationship with Scrooge. The Ghost of Christmas Present, played by Tillman, is particularly impatient because his time with Scrooge is limited.

West has said he is not attempting a major rewrite of Dickens’ novella. Instead, he wants to stay faithful to the source while adding his own style to its supernatural elements.